Tennis net



Feb. 28, 1933. R 5. BUNKER 1,899,011

TENNIS NET Filed Sept. 13, 1952 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROYCE S. BUNKER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO W. & J. KNOX NET AND TWINE COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION F NEW JERSEY TENNIS NET Application filed September 13, 1932. Serial No. 632,891.

This invention relates to nets and particumargins of the net proper 1 of the (tennis) larly nets, such as tennis nets, which in use are desirably stretched in such manner that so far as possible all portions thereof are tight and 5 under uniformy strain. One object is to improve, by strengthening, the corner construction of the net, which in a tennis net will usually be at its lower corner, and this I accomplish by securing reinforcing bands on margins of the net proper which are angularly related'to each other, causing thebands to intersect eac-h other and lapping back and securing their ends upon the portions of the bands which are so secured to the margins of the net proper; preferably each band is folded lengthwise to receive the margin of the net proper, which increases its reinforcing property. In these nets the tautenlng strain is preferably directed in a line which bisects the corner, that is to say, in the case of a tennis net somewhat downward as well as horizontally in order to stretch the net not only horizontally but in a more or less up and down direction and so keep it taut vertically as well as horizontally or lengthwise thereof; wherefore I not only lap the end of one band of the net as stated but in doing so cause it to bend around and, as it were, form a stirrup support for the other band, which obviously produces a stronger corner construction than if the two bands were simply secured together at their intersection; in a tennis net it will be the vertical band that is so treated. To provide means at the corner to which to attach a medium, as a rope or cable for supporting the net, the lapped portion of one band is left extending from the corner; if it is the bottom corner of a tennis net that is thus treated such lapped portion will be that 0 of the bottom band.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows an end fragment of a tennis net in elevation as viewed from one side, it being understood that the construction at the other end of the net is the same Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on lines 2 2 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4 and 5 show in perspective alternative corner constructions.

Secured to the lower and end or vertical net shown are, respectively, the bands 2 and which may be tarred. Preferably this is done by folding each band longitudinally and then' entering the margin of the net in each such fold and stitching the walls of the folded band together, as at 4c, lengthwise of the band and relatively inward of the marginal strand of the net. The end portion of each band is initially left projecting, or so that it intersects the other band. To maintain the fold in each band the stitching 4t extends, preferably, to the extremity of such end portion.

Each thus projecting end portion of each band is then lapped back and stitched longitudinally thereof, as at 5, to the portion of such band previously secured to the margin of the net, the stitching being also applied at the intersection of the bands.

This produces an exceedingly strong corner construction.

` But preferably in the lapping of the bands the same is e'ected so that at the intersection one band is bent around the othersee Fig. l, where band 3 is bent around both plies of the lap of band 2, and Fig. 5, where band 3 is bent around only one ply of band 2, or their plies alternate. The strain on the net exerted by its supporting means, as through ropes or cables, is in a line bisecting its corner angle in order to stretch it in both directions parallel with its margins, and this construction makes the corner reinforcement formed by the two connected bands well adapted to withstand this strain; in the case of a tennis net, for example, the strain is more or less downward as wellas horizontal, so that the band 3 adequately supports the band 2 against the effect of this strain.

Of course the opposite end of the band 3 is preferably secured in some way. In a tennis net it will be secured to the top band structure. For this purpose I have shown the band structure of the Brewster Patent No. 1,813,717, in which 6 is al tarred band assumed to be folded lengthwise as in that patent and receiving and stitched at 6a to the top margin of the net proper and 7 an untarred or white band folded lengthwise and straddling band 6 and stitched at 7a thereto. The band 3 extends between the walls of band 6 and is secured at its upper end by the stitching which holds band 6 to the net proper.

The band 2 is lapped at a point relatively outward of band 3 with respect to the net proper), thus leaving a projecting ear or tab 8 which affords means to which to attach the mentioned corner of the net to a suitable support, as a post in the case of a tennis net. This tab may be formed as a loop, as in Figs. 1 and 5, or with a grommet 9, as in Fig. 4, to receive a rope or cable 10 (Fig. l) by which to connect the net to said support.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is:

1. A net comprising, with a net proper, bands extending lengthwise of and secured respectively along longitudinal lines thereof to margins of the net proper which are angularly related to each other, one of said bands intersecting the other and the bands being secured together at the intersection and respectively having their end portions lapped back upon and secured along longitudinal lines thereof to the portions of the bands which are secured to the net proper.

2. A net comprising, with a net proper, bands folded on longitudinal lines thereof and receiving, respectively, margins of the net proper which are angularly related to each other and each having its walls secured together along a longitudinal line inward of the corresponding marginal strand of the net proper, one of said bands intersecting the other and the bands being secured together at the intersection and respectively having their end portions lapped back upon and secured along longitudinal lines thereof to the portions of the bands which are secured to the net proper.

3. A net comprising, with a net proper, bands extending lengthwise of and secured f respectively along longitudinal lines thereof to margins of the net proper which are angularly related to each other, one band having an end portion thereof bent around the other band and lapped back upon and secured along a longitudinal line thereof to that portion of the first band which is secured to the net proper and the other band having a portion relatively outward of the first band by which to secure the net to a support.

4. A net comprising, with a net proper, bands folded on longitudinal lines thereof and receiving, respectively, margins of the net proper which are angularly related to each other and each having its walls secured together along a longitudinal line inward of the correspondin marginal strand of the net proper, one band having an end portion thereof bent around the other band and lapped back upon and secured along a lon itudinal line thereof to that portion of the rst band which is secured to the net proper and the other band having a portion relatively outward of the first band by which to secure the net to a support.

5. A net comprising, with a net proper, bands extending lengthwise of and secured respectively along longitudinal lines thereof to margins of the net proper which are an larly related to each other, one band havlng an end portion thereof bent around the other band and each band having its end portion lapped back upon and secured to that portion of such band which is secured to the net proper.

6. A net comprising, with a netl proper, bands extending lengthwise of and secured respectively along longitudinal lines thereof to margins of the net proper which are angularly related to each other, one band having an end portion thereof bent around the other band and each band having its end portion lapped back upon and secured to that portion of such band which is secured to the net proper, and said other band having its la rela tively outward of the first band and t ereby forming an ear by which to secure the net to a support.

In testimony whereof I aix my si ature.

ROYCE S. BUN ER. 

